Silver Nuggets: Bobby Orr is a huge fan of Erik Karlsson

Bruce Garrioch tracked down Bobby Orr and the Bruins legend is a big fan of Erik Karlsson. It was actually quite an interesting read and Orr lists Karlsson's skating ability as his greatest asset. He adds that Paul MacLean's decision to "take off the leash" from Karlsson has been pivotal in his success this season.

Orr feels that when you are as creative as Karlsson and rush up the ice, sometimes you will get caught, just like Orr himself got caught. Karlsson doesn't always do the "safe" play of shooting the puck off the glass, instead he makes things happen. Orr talks at length about this, saying:

He'll get caught. I got caught. The players understand how he plays. They accept it. He's fast enough to get back a lot of times. You have kids coming along where (the coach says) shoot the puck up the glass and shoot it in. The coach is letting (Karlsson) do it and since they've allowed him to do it, this kid has been unbelievable. But, let him do it. That's how he is most effective. Is he gonna make mistakes? Yup. Is he gonna get caught? Yup. But the pluses are going to outweigh the minuses.


It really was great to see the defenceman generally regarded as the greatest of all time go on and on about Karlsson's skating, his positioning, his use of the stick, his shooting. The best defence is to get the puck, not necessarily muscle players off the puck, and no defenceman in the NHL is better at taking the puck away than Karlsson.

More after the jump.

Here are today's links:

  • Despite Orr gushing over Karlsson, he won't say who his Norris pick is. He does say that Karlsson will be in the top three. (Ottawa Sun)
  • And here is the case for Zdeno Chara's Norris candidacy include Chara's opinion of Karlsson. (Toronto Sun)
  • The Senators power play is struggling badly recently, but I am not too worried. They were scoring almost every game for a good 10-15 games, and now it has dried up a little. These things happen over the course of the season. (Ottawa Sun)
  • Don Brennan's daily campaign for getting Matt Carkner, and now Zenon Konopka, back into the lineup continues after the 3-1 loss to the Leafs. Poor Milan Michalek at 225 pounds was shoved by Mike Komisarek. If Konopka was on the bench at the time, Michalek would clearly not be shoved after the whistle. (Ottawa Sun)
  • Despite a disappointing loss to Toronto, let's not forget how successful this season has been. And with the number of skilled players coming over next year, it's only going to get better. (Senators Extra)
  • Matt Puempel is going to finish the season in Binghamton after his OHL season ended with his team missing the playoffs. Don't think he is eligible for the AHL next season though. (The 6th Sens)

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